Abstract: A string tension adjusting mechanism for a steel guitar. The adjusting mechanism consists of three basic parts, a bridge member, over which a guitar string is mounted and to which tension is applied to a desired pitch. A raising lever member, actuated by a pull rod, turns the pivotably-mounted bridge member clockwise to increase the tension and incease the pitch. A lowering lever member, again actuated by a pull rod, causes the bridge member to pivot in a counterclockwise direction, thus relieving the tension on the string and lowering the pitch. One of the lever members is attached to the bridge member, while both of the lever members are pivoted together. One of the lever members contains a large hole and a spacing device is mounted therein, at the point of pivot, to maintain a free space between the two lever members and between the lever member and the bridge.

Abstract: A dam, positioned behind the sickle blades on the cutter bar of a combine, prevents rocks and dirt from entering the combine and saves grain pods, prematurely dislodged from the stem, from falling from the combine header platform onto the ground. The grain-saver dam may be made in sections, bolted together loosely, so as to flex with the flexible cutter bars utilized on today's combines, or may be of one piece for use with a rigid cutter bar.

Abstract: A method for treating paper or other fibrous materials to improve the holdout characteristics of printing inks, lacquers and coating compositions. The method involves the application of an organophilic complex of(a) a water-insoluble hydrated cation-exchangeable film-forming smectitic layered silicate having an ion exchange capacity of at least 50 milliequivalents/100 g and(b) an organic radical derived from an onium compound attached thereto.The organophilic complex forms a barrier layer by reaction with the organic solvent contained in the printing ink, lacquer or other coating composition.

Abstract: A double chain hook assembly includes a first hook and a second hook, each having a bill and throat portion and a common shank, which is bifurcated at its upper end. The bifurcation produces two projecting legs, having a bight at one end and a throat at the other. Each of the legs has a bore near the top in registry with the bore in the other leg. A closure includes a bolt, slidably fastened in the two bores, so as to selectively close the throats of both hooks or of either hook, as desired. A biased ball latch selectively positions the bolt.

Abstract: A quarter-turn plug valve has an inverted and tapered frustoconical body cavity and plug. The valve body has a through-flow passage with ports opening into said body cavity. The tapered plug has a valve stem and a throughflow passage. The valve seats surround the ports and extend from the walls of the tapered valve cavity toward the plug. The plug, when seated in closed position, is in physical contact only with the annular tapered faces of the valve seats. The valve stem contains acme or square threads near the bottom to engage with a bonnet threaded at its lower end. The bonnet extends axially along the valve stem and has a projecting flange near its midpoint, which seats on a gasket placed between it and the valve body flange. When the plug is properly oriented in closed position, the adjustable bonnet is turned on the threads of the valve stem with the stem fixed until it seats on the valve body with the desired downward thrust.

Abstract: A catalyst trough containing multiple guide tubes in registry with the tubes of a multi-tube catalytic reactor is utilized to unload catalysts therefrom with maximum dust containment and maximum catalyst recovery. The catalyst recovery trough contains an outlet collar connected to an outlet line and a positive fastening means whereby the trough is fixedly but detachably connected to the tube sheet of the reactor. The guide tubes extend vertically upwardly from the bottom of the trough and are open in the bottom so as to allow the provision of flexible steel rods or "fish tapes", which may or may not be equipped with high-fluid pressure tubes as air-lances for feeding into the tubes of the reactor, which are on center with the guide tubes of the trough. In this manmner any catalytic material which is stuck or bridged across the catalytic tubes may be dislodged so as to fall by gravity into the recovery trough and into an outlet line for recovery.

Abstract: A raised hardface overlay valve seat, fused around the periphery of the port of a valve, having an inverted frustoconical body cavity and an inverted frustoconical plug inserted into said cavity in sealing engagement therewith. A major advantage of the raised hardface overlay seat is that it has a taper conforming to the taper of the plug and as a consequence, reduces the area in contact with the plug and effectively intensifies the sealing stress that can be generated between the plug and the seats by a downward force. The plug may be used with lapping compound to lap the seats, both prior to service and in the field. Sufficient space is allowed in the cavity for a substantial relap life.

Abstract: An animal liquid lure dispenser consists of a vial of liquid animal lure in open communication with a microdrip chamber. The microdrip chamber communicates with a dispensing tube, which dispenses the lure a drop at a time onto the floor of the forest. The device contains a flow control device for regulating the flow of lure through the apparatus. The apparatus is designed to be used in simulating, or with an animal "scrape" in the forest. The device is suspended from the branch of a tree, so that the lure drips at a regulated flow onto the real or simulated "scrape.

Abstract: A postoperative dynamic splint for controlled mobilization of a digit following tendon repair consists of a supportive brace assembly, having an attachment member for attachment of said brace assembly to the distal portion of the arm and the proximal portion of the hand and a tensioning unit which comprises a housing mounted on the supportive brace assembly, a spiral torsion spring mounted at one end to said housing and terminating at its other end to a work arm, which extends out of said housing. The work arm attaches to a rubber band, which is trained under a rotatable roller, mounted on a bracket attached to said brace assembly and at the other end to a connecting member, such as a nail cover, for the affected digit. This allows for extension and flexion of the recuperating digit, so as to prevent adhesion of the tendon to the tendon sheath during the healing process and thus insure full use of the digit after healing.

Abstract: A catalyst loading hopper suitable for positioning in vertical position above a reactor vessel, having an inlet at its upper end, a catalyst outlet at its lower end and a diagonally-disposed baffle extending downwardly across the hopper but terminating short of one of the walls of the hopper and a weir adjustably arranged so as to control the flow of catalysts through the hopper. There is a dust outlet at the top of the hopper, which may be connected to a conduit so as to draw dust away from the upper end of the hopper and a screen at the bottom of the hopper to separate the catalyst from any fines or undersized catalyst particles. The screen feeds into a catalyst outlet which, in turn, feeds into a conduit, which extends into the reactor vessel so as to allow arrangement of the cleaned catalyst pellets in layers in the vessel. A gas nozzle opens in the wall of the hopper and allows dust to be blown from the catalyst pellets and through the dust outlet to be collected in a suitable filter.

Abstract: Process for the treatment of liquids consisting mainly of methanol as fuels for mobile or stationary combustion engines or as hydrogen sources for fuel cells, which comprises passing the methanol mixture through a reaction chamber containing a noble metal supported catalyst for the catalytic decomposition or steam reforming of methanol, which is composed of: (A) a noble metal component of one or more elements of Group VIII of the Periodic Table on a carrier material which comprises, (B.sub.1) TiO.sub.2 or CeO.sub.2, singly or in admixture with other refractory metallic oxides and/or binders, or (B.sub.2) TiO.sub.2 or CeO.sub.2, applied to the surface of a preformed refractory carrier.

Abstract: A modular multi-tube catalyst loading funnel comprises a series of funnel modules, each equipped with a rotatable stirring rod, an opening at the bottom, and a variable-speed drive. With the apparatus, it is possible to control the drop rate of catalyst pellets in each of the funnels, by adjusting the speed of rotation of the metering rods. If more control is required, the metering rods may be raised or lowered in each funnel module to increase or decrease the speed of catalyst drop. Additionally, it is possible to utilize metering rods with various end configurations to alter the speed of the catalyst drop in the multitube catalytic reactors.

Abstract: A catalyst for lowering the nitrogen oxide content of flue gases contains as the active component an acid-activated layer silicate, in particular of the smectite type, whose layered structure is to a large extent intact after the acid treatment.

Abstract: Process and catalyst for the selective catalytic hydrolysis of the inorganic sulfur compounds COS and/or CS.sub.2 being present in CO containing process gases. The process gas is passed over an alkalized chromium oxide-aluminum oxide catalyst in the presence of H.sub.2 O.

Abstract: A system for removing fumes from the space above a cooking surface includes a hood, having front and side wall panels located above said cooking surface and covering the space above said cooking surface. The front wall panel is located forwardly of said cooking surface to form an entrainment chamber between said hood and said cooking surface. The entrainment chamber is in communication with air intake means and an exhaust means. The air intake means comprises an intake blower for introduction of air from the outside into a pressurized plenum located above said cooking surface. The pressurized plenum includes an air distribution baffle and an air velocity valve assembly, which opens into said entrainment chamber. The rear surface of said front panel supports an air foil, located below the air velocity valve assembly. The air foil extends across said hood, and projects at an acute angle toward the cooking surface.

Abstract: A catalyst for the production of synthesis gas or hydrogen from aqueous methanol by dissociation or steam reforming. The catalyst contains:(A) a metal component of one or more elements of the VIIIb group of the periodic table on a carrier material on the basis:(B.sub.1) of TiO.sub.2 or CeO.sub.2, singly or in admixture with other heat-resistant metal oxides and/or binders or(B.sub.2) of TiO.sub.2, which is introduced onto the surface of a preformed, heat-resistant carrier.Processes utilizing this catalyst allow for the dissociation of methanol for production of synthesis gas, or for the production of hydrogen through steam reforming.Thus, the concentration of hydrogen or of carbon monoxide may be controlled by monitoring the concentration of steam utilized in the inlet feed.

Abstract: Catalyst for the selective hydrogenation of multi-unsaturated organic compounds, in particular of diolefins and dienes in mixtures with other hydrocarbons; the catalyst is characterized by(A) a metal component from one or more elements of Group VIII of the Periodic Table on(B) a support material on the basis(b.sub.1) of one or more n-semiconducting oxides of one or more elements from the Subgroups IVb, Vb and VIb of the Periodic Table or of thorium or cerium, or respectively on the basis(b.sub.2) of one or more n-semiconducting mixed oxide systems of the formula Me.sub.2 Me.sub.1 (0).sub.x, where Me.sub.1 is an element of the group defined in (b.sub.1), Me.sub.2 an alkaline earth metal or an element different from Me.sub.1 or the group defined in (b.sub.1), and x signifies the number of oxygen atoms required for the saturation of Me.sub.1 and Me.sub.

Abstract: Catalyst for the synthesis of alcohol mixtures containing methanol and higher aliphatic alcohols from CO and H.sub.2, which contains, as an oxide precursor,(a) copper oxide and zinc oxide, which can be transformed into the catalytically active state by reduction with hydrogen;(b) aluminum oxide as a thermostabilizing substance and(c) at least one alkali carbonate or alkali oxide,the oxidic precursor comprising from 20 to 70% of the total volume of pores having a diameter between 14 and 7.5 nm, the alkali content being 13-130.times.10.sup.-6 gram atom alkali metal per gram of the oxidic precursor, and the aluminum oxide component having been obtained from a colloidally dispersed aluminum hydroxide gel or sol.

Abstract: Process for the removal of nitrogen oxides from exhaust gases, in particular from exhaust gases containing sulfur oxides, by catalytic reduction. As a reduction agent a gas mixture obtained by catalytic conversion of methanol either by catalytic dissociation or by steam reforming is mixed with the exhaust gases and passed over a catalyst, wherein the nitrogen oxides are reduced to nitrogen. According to the first variant, one operates with conventional catalysts above 300.degree. C., according to the second variant, with new catalysts below 300.degree. C.

Abstract: An improved catalyst is described which comprises a normally cylindrical refractory support having gas passages communicating from end to end and oriented parallel to its axis and having gas passages in the shape of segments of circles (pie-shaped), square, hexagonal, circular, oval or sinusoidal. The exterior and interior surfaces are coated with catalytic compositions. The length of the refractory support is significantly less than the diameter. Further, there is a definite ratio of height to effective internal diameter (H:ID) of each of the gas passages. These catalysts are especially effective for endothermal reactions because both the internal and external surfaces of the support are coated with catalysts and are more efficiently heated. This is especially true for the internal surfaces of the support (i.e., the walls of the axially oriented gas passages) which heretofore have been shielded from the infra-red rays radiating from the tubes of the catalytic reactor.